Subway. Exit Metro Orange or Blue LineCapitol South subway statiion, on 1st Street go north one block to Independence Ave., then east almost to 2nd Street. Use the Jefferson Building southeast back entrance.

Collection Description

Established in 1800, the original small library was destroy during the British invasion of 1814. Thomas Jefferson offered his own personal library of 6,487 books as a replacement. Since becoming the U.S. copyright repository it has grown to the largest library in the world. It serves both houses of Congress, and is open to the public.[3]

The Local History and Genealogy Reading Room has 50,000 genealogies, 100,000 local histories, rich in collections of manuscripts, microfilms, maps, newspapers, photographs, published material, bibliographies, and research guides. It is strong in North American, British Isles, and German sources.[2] Internet subscription service databases include Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Accessable Archives, New England Ancestors, as well as America History and Life, ArchivesUSA, Biography and Genealogy Master Index, JSTOR, and ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

The larger library also has incomparable royalty, nobility, and heraldry collections, making it one of a few libraries in America that offer such a combination.

Tips

Before a visit to the LH&G Reading Room, be sure to read Before You Begin about obtaining a Reader I.D. Card.

New York City Public Library international genealogy, heraldry, personal and family names (in Roman alphabets), family papers, Dorot Jewish collection, maps, periodicals, American history at national, state, and local levels.

California State Library–Sutro, San Francisco, best west coast genealogy collection for states outside California, 7,000 family histories. 35,000 local histories and vital records, federal census microfilms, and Mexican history.

St. Louis County Library, mostly Missouri, but includes St. Louis Genealogical, and National Genealogical Societies' collections, online databases, federal censuses, African American records, & access to LDS microfilms.

Daughters of the American Revolution Library, Washington DC, Revolutionary War and colonial period, including family and local histories, cemetery transcriptions, Bible records, 15,000 genealogical membership applications.